Hearing aid with a switching device for switching on and off and corresponding method
First Claim
1. A hearing aid, comprising a switching device for switching the hearing aid on and off, wherein:
- the switching device includes a resistance sensor for detecting an electrical load resistance, a value of the electrical load resistance being determined by a size of the volume into which the hearing aid emits sound, wherein a first size of the volume is defined upon insertion of the hearing aid into an auditory canal of an user wearing the hearing aid, and a second size of the volume is defined upon deinsertion of the hearing aid from the auditory canal of the user, andthe switching device is adapted to automatically switch on and off the hearing aid based on the respective value of the electrical load resistance resulting upon insertion and deinsertion of the hearing aid relative to the auditory canal of the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
It is intended that the switching on and off of a hearing aid (I) should be made more user-friendly. To this end the hearing aid (I) is fitted with a temperature sensor (TS) to detect the body heat of the hearing aid wearer and therefore that the hearing aid is inserted in the auditory canal. The hearing aid is then switched on and off again based on the temperature signal. As an alternative to the temperature sensor, it is possible to use a pressure sensor to detect contact pressure of the hearing aid housing on the auditory canal, a resistance sensor to detect an electrical load resistance as a function of volume or an acoustic sensor to detect a sound level. It is also possible to switch the hearing aid (I) on and off wirelessly using a remote control.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A hearing aid, comprising a switching device for switching the hearing aid on and off, wherein:
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the switching device includes a resistance sensor for detecting an electrical load resistance, a value of the electrical load resistance being determined by a size of the volume into which the hearing aid emits sound, wherein a first size of the volume is defined upon insertion of the hearing aid into an auditory canal of an user wearing the hearing aid, and a second size of the volume is defined upon deinsertion of the hearing aid from the auditory canal of the user, and the switching device is adapted to automatically switch on and off the hearing aid based on the respective value of the electrical load resistance resulting upon insertion and deinsertion of the hearing aid relative to the auditory canal of the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for switching a hearing aid on and off, comprising:
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acquiring a resistance signal related to an electrical load resistance; determining a value of the electrical load resistance based on a size of the volume into which the hearing aid emits sound, wherein a first size of the volume is defined upon insertion of the hearing aid into an auditory canal of an user wearing the hearing aid, and a second size of the volume is defined upon deinsertion of the hearing aid from the auditory canal of the user; and deriving a switching signal for automatically switching the hearing aid on and off from the resistance signal related to the electrical load resistance resulting upon insertion and deinsertion of the hearing aid relative to the auditory canal of the user. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification